Rinchi
TechInAfrica – Just a week ago (on July 17th, 2019) during the inaugural Afro-Asia FinTech Festival in Kenya, announced that it would expand its e-commerce platform, Masoko, to Southern Africa by 2020.
As quoted in itnewsafrica.com, Safaricom’s CFO, Sitoyo Lopoiyit, stated: “As a digital telco, we see endless possibilities for business beyond borders. We are currently reviewing our e-commerce proposition Masoko to ensure that we are positioned ready to take off.”
“Through the mobile phone, and with its penetration in Kenya at 100%, most families have access to at least one mobile phone, making it possible to use these devices as powerful tools for social and economic development.”
Lipokoiyit said that the plan is part of the company’s efforts to meet the expected growth which said that by the end of 2020, there will be over 525 million smartphones used in Southern Africa. However, Lipokoiyit did not provide specific information about which South African country the expansion would start first.
Lipokoiyit said that Safaricom’s ambition for the Masoko platform is to provide access and opportunities to small businesses offered by the rapid growth of e-commerce around the world.
“As a telco, we are purposed to transform lives by investing in technology and knowledge that will widen the reach of the possibilities they have witnessed in the last two decades to reach right across Africa, using that pocket-sized gadget,” Lopokoiyit added.
Source: itnewsafrica.com
